Not the end of his NFL career. But it could be the last time Manning has such a golden opportunity to reach a Super Bowl.

That was why Manning hurt so much after the Broncos lost to the Ravens, 38-35, in a riveting playoff game that didn’t end until the second overtime. About 30 minutes after the game, Manning addressed the media and the pain almost seeped through his skin. He stood behind a podium, a dejected and defeated superstar. Wearing a suit and a somber expression, Manning looked like a politician making a concession speech.

Manning is an all-time great quarterback, but he lacks an all-time great playoff resume. This loss dropped his career playoff record to 9-11. Once again, Manning made a big mistake in a big spot. Late in the first overtime period, Manning threw late over the middle, and Corey Graham of the Ravens picked off the pass at the Broncos’ 45-yard line.

Give Manning credit for this. He made no excuses.

“Bad throw,” Manning said. “Probably the decision (wasn’t) great either. I thought I had an opening, and I didn’t get enough on it and I was trying to make a play and certainly a throw I’d like to have back.”

Manning’s interception set up Justin Tucker’s 47-yard game-winning field goal early in the second overtime period. Poof, there went Manning’s season. And it raised the likelihood that Manning may win just one Super Bowl, the one he captured with the Colts following the 2006 season.

This playoff season was all set up for Manning to go farther than this. The Broncos were a No. 1 seed. They were riding an 11-game winning streak. The atmosphere in Denver was electric. The Broncos could not have asked for a better home crowd. Yet, the Broncos didn’t deliver. Manning didn’t deliver.

This loss wasn’t just on Manning. If the Broncos’ secondary had not been so terrible, Denver would have won in regulation.

However, Manning and Denver’s offense fizzled in the second half. Denver only drove for one touchdown after halftime. The Broncos’ other second-half touchdown came on Trindon Holliday’s 104-yard kickoff return. Holliday also had a 90-yard punt return TD, and in the biggest game of the season, it was Holliday (two touchdowns) who played better than Manning (28-for-43, 290 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions).

Manning wasn’t awful, but he wasn’t special, and his play got worse in the second half and in overtime. His throws seemed lose a little zip. He rarely challenged Baltimore with deep throws. It was reminiscent of another famous cold weather game in the 2007 playoffs, when Brett Favre and the Packers lost a heartbreaker to the Giants at frigid Lambeau Field. Favre also threw a late interception in the 2009 NFC championship game, when his Vikings lost to the Saints.

Even great players like Favre and Manning at some point succumb to Father Time. Manning will be 37 years old in March. He missed all of the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries. He did a tremendous job in his first season with the Broncos, but doing it again next season will require Manning to put his body through more pain, hoping it will pay off, and that his body will hold up.

“It’s a grind,” Manning said. “It does require a lot of work and a lot of energy and so that’s why it is disappointing, because of how much hard work and effort and time and extra meetings and workouts that we put in to get to this point.”

Manning was not ready to make a retirement speech, saying he felt up to getting himself ready for another season.

“I accomplished a lot more this year than I certainly thought that I would have personally and I think this team exceeded its expectations as well,” Manning said. “We really didn’t know what to expect from this team. It’s hard to form chemistry when you have new players and a new team.”

The great ride that Manning was on this season came to crashing halt. Manning had beaten the Ravens nine consecutive times, but the leader of Baltimore’s defense, Ray Lewis, was determined that his career would not end with another loss to Manning,

“I heard about it so many times,” Lewis said. “That man right there (Manning) has the ultimate respect, because he is, in my book, probably the greatest of all time.”

However, Manning is running out of time to experience again what it feels like to win a championship. After his postgame comments were over, Manning eventually walked out into the Denver night. For Manning, it would be another long, cold offseason.